Seyed Masoud Mojahedi1, Mahin Bakhshi1, Somayyeh Babaei2, Aida Mehdipour3, Hamid Asayesh4. 1. Department of Laser, Dental school, Shahid Behehsti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. 2. Department of Oral Medicine, Dental school, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak. 3. Department of Pediatric, Dental school, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom. 4. Department of Medical emergency, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Physiologic gingival pigmentation (PGP) is the most common type of gingival pigmentation causing esthetic concerns particularly in gummy smile patients. Laser therapy is an effective and noninvasive treatment modality for such patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser for treatment of PGP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study (one-group pretest-post-test design) was conducted on 20 patients complaining of gingival melanin pigmentation. The gingiva of the anterior segment of the arch was ablated with 810 nm diode laser until the entire visible pigmentation was removed. Clinical observations for the intensity of pigmentation were made at baseline, one month and three months, postoperatively. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Friedman test. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the mean score of gingival melanin pigmentation in the maxilla and mandible was 2.95. At one month postoperatively, the mean scores of the maxilla and mandible were 1.53 and 1.55, respectively. After three months, the mean rank of scores of the maxilla and mandible was 1.53 and 1.50, respectively. The difference between the pre- and postoperative mean scores was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Diode laser therapy is an effective and minimally invasive modality for gingival depigmentation. But further investigations with long-term follow ups are warranted in this respect.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Physiologic gingival pigmentation (PGP) is the most common type of gingival pigmentation causing esthetic concerns particularly in gummy smile patients. Laser therapy is an effective and noninvasive treatment modality for such patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser for treatment of PGP. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study (one-group pretest-post-test design) was conducted on 20 patients complaining of gingival melanin pigmentation. The gingiva of the anterior segment of the arch was ablated with 810 nm diode laser until the entire visible pigmentation was removed. Clinical observations for the intensity of pigmentation were made at baseline, one month and three months, postoperatively. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Friedman test. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the mean score of gingival melanin pigmentation in the maxilla and mandible was 2.95. At one month postoperatively, the mean scores of the maxilla and mandible were 1.53 and 1.55, respectively. After three months, the mean rank of scores of the maxilla and mandible was 1.53 and 1.50, respectively. The difference between the pre- and postoperative mean scores was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Diode laser therapy is an effective and minimally invasive modality for gingival depigmentation. But further investigations with long-term follow ups are warranted in this respect.